Unused, underused, and misused: an examination of theories on urban void spaces

Today, urban voids have emerged as challenges to the strategic utilization of cities undergoing constant expansion or shrinkage. Urban voids are unused, underused and misused urban spaces, including abandoned buildings, vacant lots, and derelict areas. Many relevant studies conducted over the past 40 years tend to be unconsolidated, which obstructs the comprehensive accumulation of topic-related scholarship. Hence, this paper examines the dispersed definitions and conceptual approaches to urban voids mentioned in the literature and reclassify various terms to comprehensively clarify their attributes and potentials. Further research on urban voids should build strong academic and practical foundations to shape sustainable cities.